kgenereux-75-533576 Reviews

The Atypical Family (2024– )

A Slow Undertow

[8/10 · 27 May 2024]

The series takes its time. But somewhere along the way it pulled me in hard with its meandering time-bending strangeness. Definitely there's an undertow thing happening with every black & white shot glimpse into characters' recurring dreamscapes and nightmares. I'm at episode 8 now, and I'm guessing that those who are reviewing this drama as "Boring" probably swam to shore very early. Honestly, it took about 4 episodes before the dramatic undertow broke down my "you've got to be kidding me" barriers.

Bottom line is it's not a show for a k-drama beginner.: It would tigger too much crazy-making culture shock. But once you've seen a lot of k-dramas, you get used to a lot of really strange stuff. Like how a tiny 12 yr. Old girl, who seems to be legally blind without her glasses, is allowed to walk to school (and all over the whole darn city) ALONE.

But if you can get past the clueless child neglect, "Atypical Family" might just pull you in like it did me. Btw, This is maybe a 7 star series, but I gave a full extra star for the top-notch performance of Jang Ki-yong, who plays time travelling Gwi-joo. His character slowly sheds his comatose stone-coldness, frays and unravels, then unleashes a range of nuanced and cagey emotions. Jang's 4D acting definitely unveils itself as a cut above his costars, whose emotive capacities are either borderline passive, over-the-top, comic-bookish or just blah. (The actress who plays Grace deserves a small shout-out too. She's a cool combo of sly and fierce.) Anyway since the whole super-power thing was slow getting started, maybe we get a cliff hanger and a Season 2? I Hope so.

Mai (2024)

Most Loathesome Character Wins All

[4/10 · 18 May 2024]

I can't believe I lost 2 hours of my life watching a movie that ends in triumph for the character I most despised. This confounding tumultuous tale of a carnival-like Vietnamese subculture awash in masseuses, evil neighbors, street thugs and perverts might be exciting to some viewers but it's one rabbit hole I wish I never ventured down. While the fact that many Vietnamese kids will dutifully worship at the feet of judgemental, controlling and selfish parents is something I've seen firsthand, it doesn't make it any easier to witness or accept. From the get-go, the film's protagonists all seem to suffer from a culturally pervasive sort of Stockholm Syndrome. Despite an ephemeral moment or two of promising romantic charm, overall I found the story relentlessly disturbing.

Anna (II) (2019)

If Looks Could Kill

[9/10 · 25 April 2024]

Anna M. As portrayed by Sasha Luss is gorgeous, IQ brilliant and incorrigibly bad a**. I haven't been so invested in the fate of a female action heroine since Uma Thurman in the Kill Bill franchise. Maybe because there's something undeniably Thurman-esque about Luss-the lean nordic sparrow physicality and the ice cool that permeates the screen in every frame she inhabits. Her female co-star is the indomitable Helen Mirren, as the cynically callous KGB puppetmaster Olga. Mirren is almost terrifying here, owning the chain smoking Olga role with a wry subtlety. Cillian Murphy shows up as a CIA agent with aloof bluster and an achilles heel. Lots of sparks fly between him and Luss, and the attraction he feels toward Anna is written all over him at first encounter. The Russian speaking cast isn't too shabby, but without Mirren and Murphy this flick would be less than. I liked the chess themes woven throughout the film, even if at times a tad clumsy. They included Anna's quick ID of a quote of Garry Kasparov's, about advantages gained by an attack. Anna is indeed a merciless KGB assassin, a feminine ninja in furs, with the raw preternatural death-agent skills of a John Wick. She's "KGB baby" and then some. If you relish a bit of high speed mortal combat and appreciate fight scene choreo this film will not disappoint. But without a doubt, the dialogue is the weakest aspect of this movie. It's often too dumbed down and forced. The early in the film dialogues are borderline cringe in fact. But it improves. And it's never sus with Mirren or Murphy's lines, which sizzle with sophistication and authenticity. In summary, this 2019 film stuck the landing and I wish there was a sequel.

What's Wrong with Secretary Kim (2018)

A Witty & Passion-filled K-Romance

[10/10 · 18 April 2024]

OK, I confess. I had soured on K-drama Romances big time. Over the years I've stupidly watched at least 20 of them hoping against hope that the next one would be better, "cathartic" even, but to no avail. (Luckily I had found Japanese TV romances, and they are a lot less "tame" and formulaic. ) To be blunt, the K-drama romance factor is generally all smoke and little flame. They rarely include any kisses that last for longer than 5 1/2 seconds in slo-mo. But a friend told me this series might "evolve" my keenly critical observations. And it sure did. In "What's Wrong with Secretary Kim", increasingly intimate scenes don't immediately fade to black if you know what I'm saying. The lead actress here is pretty, charming and not cloyingly sweet. She's relatable, chic and down-to earth. The male lead is well cast too. He has that oddball style of comedic timing, and with classic handsomeness in spades, his character is believably written as the ultimate Chaebol narcissist. But he's in love with himself in such an over-the-top hilarious way that it's not annoying, Plus he's not a cad, just totally clueless, so you can fall for him from the start, like "Kim Mi So" has, but won't admit to herself. I liked how the couple chemistry went from tepid to hot at a believable and not so frustratingly slow pace. This show represents a new improved breed of K-drama Romance series. A lot less with the weird obsession over food, the getting ludicrously drunk with friends and those minor characters who hog the spotlight with "filler" trivial antics. I really loved every episode. Very addictive and binge-worthy.

3 Body Problem (2024– )

If Einstein was a Supermodel

[5/10 · 15 April 2024]

This series CGI is definitely a stunner. But the series as a whole could have been easier to like with actually sympathetic lead characters in the mix. If you watch episode 5, you will have watched perhaps the only full episode worth the hype this show is getting btw. (Although I also liked the sub-titled historical intro (set in China, circa 1977), that featured an excellent actress who portrays the tortured young Dr. Ye. Meanwhile in contrast to this poignant and serious portrayal of an enslaved physicist who betrays humanity, are the two irritating "western" female scientists, Jin and Auggie, who seem to have been cast for their ability to maintain sex appeal even while grimacing or in a state of shock. (Question: Does how good female physicists look in tight jeans impress particle accelerators?) And one other question: how does Dr. Salazar, who is nearly going blind/ being driven insane by flashing numbers scrawled across her vision, manage to apply mascara and eyeliner so perfectly? I got used to this distracting supermodel Einstein schtick after a while, but sheesh, It's just so ludicrous. Btw, I've now watched half of the "unflashy" Chinese 30 episode version called "3 body" and it's dramatically superior. At least it never reeks of glammed-up sci-fi soap opera like this Neflix version does. Although admiitedly, the final scene was pretty OK.

Ballet Now (2018)

The Tiler Peck Show

[3/10 · 15 March 2024]

But OK. Tiler Peck is a very talented dancer who can do 27 pirouettes on a dime. But she's no Gelsey Kirkland or Suzanne Farrell or a Sylvie Guillem. Lots of big smile bravado, sure, but I don't feel any emotional depth or passion emanating from her. Anyway, I enjoyed some of the rehearsal scenes, but I found 2/3 of this movie meh. Too much "The Tiler Peck Show"/ "Tiler did you eat your sandwich?" fawning mom and grandma stuff for me. The clown skit might have been better if Ms. Peck had dropped the ballerina goofy and went full whacky Carol Burnett mode goofy. The final mash-up finale piece was lively chaos, but with no real vision, drama or edginess. I was expecting Ms. Peck to get into some actual hip-hop herself; She didn't. But maybe that was a good thing. Even without the tutu and pink tights business, Ms. Peck is a precision ballerina-ist to her core. (Attention Hollywood: Tiler Peck would make for a stylin' android in a sci-fi movie.)

Poor Things (2023)

High Brow Pornography A La Mode

[3/10 · 10 March 2024]

If you are a fan of both goth horror and pornography this is your movie of the year. The old porno-trope of a woman who finds ultimate freedom by debasing herself as a "free spirited" prostitute/ sex vessel. This film is a throwback to 80's arthouse "soft" porn like The Story of O and the Emmanuelle saga but with a "goth victorian-belle époque mash-up" twist. I found it to be a weird combination salacious and nauseating. As an mature woman, I can attest to the fact that in its early hay-days, the porn industry tried its best to brainwash me and my female generation into believing that living the life of a sex object was the ultimate form of female liberation. And they're at it again it folks! This time with a throng of tuxedoed Hollywooders unabashedly playing henchman (and pimp nouveau). I had to fast forward through the most salacious and grotesque scenes, of which there were many. Great art direction, hilarious "Chimera" type creatures, and a riveting star acting turn by William Defoe however, so 3 stars.

Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai (2011)

A Gripping Understated Masterpiece

[9/10 · 24 February 2024]

Like the original Kobasyashi version, this film aspires to and ascends to being actual art. I see it as an homage to that film, but with a more complex slow-burn undertow. Takashi Miike's "Samurai" sort of unfolds more darkly, lugubriously, and reverently. (And because most of my friends dismissed this movie as way too slow, I took 1 star off.) But if you can get past the glacier pacing, long before its stunning climax the director hypnotises you with a slow reveal of the dance between karmic justice and human revenge. There's just a lot to admire about this movie: From the sublime acting to its multi-layered feng shui sets and haunting dialogue. The cinematography is visually laconic, and we are often jolted from the pervasive gnawing bleakness to a blindingly bright nature scene that shimmers like a verse of haiku poetry: It's a masterfully Japanese way to express Nature's indifference to evil and human suffering. But OK, now I'll cut to the quick: I'll call this classic film under-rated, understated and maybe even profound. Plus it has some borderline iconic action scenes that are totally worth the wait.

Doctor Slump (2024)

An Implausibly Slow Romance

[7/10 · 19 February 2024]

I had 9 stars worth of interest in Dr. Slump until this weekend, when episodes 7 & 8 were aired by Netflix USA. Ouch. The Romance vector is implausibly slow in that the female lead had already confessed to "quasi-romantically liking" "Dr. Rooftop" (they've held hands on a windswept beach and had a multitude of emotional confessions) yet in episode 8 she is suddenly bizarrely retro-ambivalent. Seriously, she's pushing 30, yet she seems to equate handholding to sexual intimacy. (Like she's spent the last 20 years ain a convent.) Also whenever any of the female actors get drunk, which happens way too often in eps. 7 and 8, they often become outrageously physically abusive to male characters. I find those drunken party scenes downright strange, and the level of acting in them falls between unconvincing and atrocious.

House of Ninjas (2024– )

Absorbing Drama but Horrible Music

[8/10 · 17 February 2024]

This series will be one-starred as boring by hard-core action lovers. And by anyone who detests painfully corny music, which almost ruined the whole series for me. (It might even have been a 10 star for me but its theme song "My House" is so nauseating that I wore out my mute button. But I did find the story unique and absorbing and all the veteran actors were superb. Episode 5 was the game changer that got me hooked, culminating in a scene that had a Jesus-wandering-in-the-desert vibe. Really striking scenery. Btw, If you are a Japanese drama fan, you will recognize the Shinobi ninja hero father from Rurouni Kenshin movies. Meanwhile the the evil cult leader of the Fuma Clan was the protagonist of the cool Japanese series "The Naked Director". He is menacingly terrific here. I can't place the Shinobi mom, but her acting was intense but subtle/spot-on perfect. Like Michelle Yeoh, she may be an aging Asian beauty but she's a total scene stealer.

Saitama no hosuto (2023)

An Addictive Nutty Series from Japan

[10/10 · 4 February 2024]

It makes absolutely no sense to me why after having literally seen 100's of movies/TV series from world over on Netflix, The Saitama Host Club is my #1 favorite to re-watch whenever I'm feeling stressed or down. It's so nutty and over the top. With it's offbeat improbable cast of characters and peculiar plotlines nothing I've ever seen resembles it. Once I realized I had ventured down a proverbial rabbit hole featuring a quasi-mad queen trying to "reform" a band of misfit "hosts" at Club Eichi, an obscure host club in Saitama Japan, I figured that I had 2 options. 1. roll my eyes and quit watching it or 2. Abandon all disbelief and enjoy the show. I picked door #2, and by episode four I was hooked. I Love all the players: bossy Ms. Yurika, diamond -in-the-rough Kiseki, Mr. Kobata, wicked Genji, punky Sen, sour Mamoru...wow I even remember all their names now. And I don't know much Japanese. Actually the simple dialogue of this show (the characters are never verbose) helped me learn a lot of Japanese words and expressions, which was a bonus. I'd love to visit Japan someday.

My Demon (2023–2024)

Just Keeps Getting Better

[10/10 · 2 January 2024]

I was really enjoying "My Demon" in an 8 out of 10 stars way, and then it kept geyting better and better. Episodes 9 & 10: Wherein "My Demon" takes on the mesmerizing glow of TV series genius. A visually explosive scene between a confused Demon (Song Kang) and the mysterious snaggle-toothed baglady blew me away. There is a big dose of cosmic philosophy entering the picture and it quite unnerved me. This is no ordinary Korean rom-com, that's for sure. I stayed for all the lingering doe-eyed "will they or won't they" gazes, the rockstar Demon's high stylin' wardrobe, the gleaming CGI frozen-in-time moments, and the unmasking of a human monster obssessed with a schmaltzy-eerie k-pop lovesong. But now I am suddenly pondering the meaning of life and contemplating the essence of Universe's Supreme creator. I've fallen 10 stars hard for this series now, but whether the final 6 episodes will remain mysteriously profound, or devolve into superficial cheesiness is "to be continued"...

Night in Paradise (2020)

Like a Dead End Street

[1/10 · 22 October 2023]

A "Night in Paradise"? What night in paradise? That's one joke of an ironic movie title. This was probably one of the most depressing films I've ever seen. And certainly the most depressing Korean film I've ever seen. Some reviewers (obviously with a higher tolerance for torture and/or psychological sadism than I have) may view this movie as a masterwork in gangster-noir. But this particular gangster-noir of a film projects an unmitigated nihilism, not a Tarrantino or "Donnie Brasco" style of semi-redemptive nihilism. So way too dark for me. I mean despite the vivid cinematography and some flashes of directorial brilliance, the film's protagonists never resonate with any interconnecting emotional depth except in one fifteen-second long interlude. That's all the director could spare us? IMHO that's just being miserly. This is a slickly crafted film that ultimately sticks its landing on the astral plane of an ambivalent Nowheresville.

Ore no Ie no Hanashi (2021)

Story of My Family

[8/10 · 13 October 2023]

This 2021 Japanese series seems to have been re-titled "Story of My Family" by Netflix. It features the veteran actor Tomoya Nagase, who starred in the hilarious My Boss My Hero and the cult youth drama, IWGP / Ikaburo West Gate Park. (He deservedly won top acting honors in Japan for his starring role here btw.) Tomoya plays the eldest sibling of a clan of revered Noh performers whose "National Treasure" father is coming to terms with Alzheimers. In the very first scenes we learn that he had abandoned serious Noh traditions for an "escapist" style life in pro-wrestling, but has returned as a prodigal son. He clearly has a lot of "catching up" to do and fences to mend. His role oscillates between comedic and tragic and often careens toward the mythic. Although he is is the "narrator" throughout the series, his emotions (like the emotions of many of the other characters) somehow remain inscrutable. Like the family in the story, the series' flow is quite a puzzle: a puzzle with many pieces that never quite fit together. But I enjoyed trying to figure it all out anyway and I'm still scratching my head over episode #10.

Love, Death & Robots: Jibaro (2022) Season 3, Episode 9

Macabre Ballet

[10/10 · 23 June 2023]

This is a bizarre allegory of colonialism, presented in the form of a gleaming blood soaked ballet. I'm sure it's also a morality tale that speaks to our plunder of our beautiful planet and nature as well. In the end, man's insatiable greed renders him unable to avoid self destruction. It's a tale told over and over again, but not quite like this. And not in just 17 minutes. It's a wild ride, that's for sure. I thought the female gilded bodhisattva character was perfection/ equally alluring and terrifying. Her violent tragic story was a sickening glimpse of a terrifying future enlightenment. The CGI is otherworldly and the episode deservedly won many awards. The director sought out highly trained classical dancers and a superb choreographer and it shows. What an apex way to end a solid season of Love, Death and Robots. Pure genius and a truly iconic masterpiece.

Rurouni Kenshin: Final Chapter Part II - The Beginning (2021)

A Masterpiece of Film Art

[10/10 · 14 May 2023]

Quick take: An unsung masterpiece of Japanese cinema. "The Beginning" eclipses all the other Kenshin films because of its mythic proportions: the deep human connections formed around loyalty, betrayal, life, death and ultimately, forgiveness and redemption. At its heart is a love story so restrained, exquisite and powerful that it defies logic. Naoki Sato's soundtrack for this film vibes like a gift from the music gods. Especially the track "Tokinoma", which is almost unbearably beautiful; It's the score for the film's most tragic scene. Takeru Satoh and Kasumi Arimura's chemistry is stunning here.

Description: This "prequel" of the popular Kenshin film saga is a shimmering cinematic diamond that must be viewed though a lens of art and Japanese divine tragedy. Those who demand realism and linear explorations of the human psyche need not apply. "The Beginning" is the finest of 5 Rurouni Kenshin films directed by Keishi Otomo since 2012. The films star Takeru Satoh, whose dynamic yet intensely reticent interpretation of "Battosai the Killer" has transformed Satoh into an icon in Japan today. "The Beginning" is as artfully rendered and deeply humanistic as any classic Akira Kurowsawa film, and I have seen all of the master's most hailed works. The cinematic breadth and even musical scoring of the intensely crafted swordplay is often gut wrenching. And while the "raining blood" violence here may seem unrelenting to some, the heart of this film is an epic love: a tale of surrender, betrayal, transformation and transcendence. The achingly ethereal performance of Kasumi Arimura as the ghostly Tomoe has no parallel in American cinema today. (The chemistry between Satoh and Arimura mesmerises.) If you choose to embark on watching the entire Rouruni Kenshin "pentalogy" in chronologic sequence, you may opt to see this one first. But be forewarned: As an artistic achievement, "Rouruni Kenshin, The Beginning" is the truly apex experience.

Empire of Lust (2015)

Cruel Fates and Spoils of War

[8/10 · 30 April 2023]

Like many a "Joseon Empire" historical action movie, this 2015 South Korean film is solidly anchored in sword violence. (To put it bluntly, there's lots of blood and gore.) But the addition of rape scenes made it significantly more disturbing than your average TV K-drama "sageuk", which (as of 2023) are always pristinely sanitized in romantic and/or sexual situations. This movie opens with an arty inter-splicing of a bloody battle and rather raw lovemaking, which may seem gratuitous to some, but provides a deft summary of the 2 faces of lust that fueled the rise of a 500 year dynasty. The directing and acting is top notch, especially from the two lead actors, noble hero Shin Ha-Kyun and psycho-villain Jang Hyuk (who rose to prominence in the iconic sageuk "The Slave Hunters"). Both of these action stars can actually act, and superb at packing a universe of emotion into a "100 yard stare". This film is basically a love story and could have been improved with better couple chemistry and a more memorable OST. The k-drama TV series "My Country: The New Age", also set in this era and with Jang Hyuk reprising his role as Bang Won, is cheesier/ less sophisticated than EoL, but it's much more entertaining and more visually enticing. In summary, Empire of Lust is a film worth 2 hours of your time, but its depictions of extreme avarice and cruelty are not easy watching.

An Incurable Case of Love (2020– )

Lacking Love Chemistry

[6/10 · 21 April 2023]

I watched every episode of An Incurable Case of Love in April 2023. For the entire 10 hours of viewing, I kept assuming that some plausible chemistry would develop between the leads. It did not. The best I could accept, was that the male lead decided that the young nurse who idolized him would make a devoted wife he could sneer at forever. Takeru Satoh, as the alpha cardiologist object of not one, but two female obssessions, remained excessively inscrutable throughout. He was mostly just unpleasant to the point of mean 90% of the time. In retrospect, I have become perturbed at the show's premise: Its message is that having a love obsession around a name calling cad can be a reasonable and self-affirming endeavor. That's just BS here imho. As much as I like Takeru Satoh in the Rurouni Kenshin films, he just didn't deserve to win the very sweet girl here. I wish she had moved on, at least until he repented his chronically abusive behavior. Which he never did. Instead, we are supposed to accept that since he is "a prince", a kiss can cancel out name-calling, and is all the apology ever needed.

Joker (I) (2019)

A Misunderstood Masterpiece

[10/10 · 4 November 2019]

Someday the throng of pious "socially responsible" critics who tried to destroy this powerful film will come to figure out why Joker is truly the movie of the decade.

Deedan (2018– )

Deedan/Daring to Look Behind the Veil

[10/10 · 16 December 2018]

First I need to make it clear that I do not understand Urdu or Hindu so my comprehension of the intricacies of the plot of this shimmering Pakistani Drama is limited to the reading of faces and actions. (And I've watched only 10 episodes so far.) That said, I find the drama mesmerizing and addictive. I feel like I am seeing first-hand what it would be like to live in a "traditional" society that has no qualms about treating women as chattel. The story follows two friends from a rural village: One girl serendipitously finds fortune in the big city while under the thumb of her husband; The other is forced to remain in the mountains in a warped family situation. With the alluring and rugged landscape of rural Pakistan as the backdrop for many scenes, the visuals are often hypnotic. And while there are some problems with sound quality and over-the-top acting at times, lead actress Sanam Saeed as village girl Resham, is consistently well directed, subtle and poignant in her expressions. Her urban foil in the charming Minsa Malik is also a bright spot. I think that "Deedan" is a brave look at an exotic and inscrutable culture, its many tenacious veils and the hidden oppression of its females.

Monica Z (2013)

Under the Spell of Monika Z

[10/10 · 25 December 2016]

very minor spoiler at the very end of this review... It seems like Sweden was under the spell of Monika Z for a few decades. Here in the USA, we do not know her. Yet her story is so familiar: beautiful girl from a modest background. Big hopes and disarming talent. Poised for major discovery and stardom...with hopes foiled and rekindled many times along the way. Yet we never grow tired of the story, do we? Because every ending is different perhaps. This movie tells the tale in a more modest way than an American film would. It does not try to razzle dazzle us with Hollywood-style production numbers. It focuses more on Monika navigating between artistic impulse and fame obsession and the kaleidoscope of repercussions. True narcissists are rarely redeemed by self awareness or minor tragedies.With that in mind, I was kept in suspense wondering whether Monika suffered from a deep incurable personality disorder or a long bout of reversible blind ambition. I was not disappointed with the cinematic build-up to the final reveal. I know Danish, and watched the movie in Swedish with Danish subtitles on Danish public TV. Some of the nudity may have been cut, but I did not find anything offensive or describable as "full frontal" as another reviewer from Norway has mentioned. I only wish this movie had a full soundtrack of Edda Magnusson singing Monika Z classics. Her voice is enchanting. I like her renditions of Swedish jazz classics even better than the Monika Z samples I have heard on youtube. I gave the movie 10 stars, because rarely do I want to watch a movie twice, and now I plan to watch it for a third time in fact! The movie's only minor flaw was the bar scene with Ella Fitzgerald. The exchange was not very convincing to my mind. The actress who played the great EF was perhaps too strident. I would have expected a more reserved, almost indifferent reaction. So maybe the blame is also on the lines written. So to be precise, I would say 9 1/2 stars. Enjoy!

Ditte & Louise (2015–2016)

Two 30 something women form an offbeat comedy team

[10/10 · 4 July 2015]

(Note: This series from Denmark's Radio is in the Danish language and currently unavailable with English subtitles) Making people laugh, does not come naturally for this unlikely pair of Danish actresses who decide to form a comedic entertainment duo. But that certainly doesn't stop them from trying. An odd couple in many ways, the two form a bond that slowly transforms into a force of nature. Each episode features brilliant physical comedy, along with some embarrassing sexual situations, which Americans might find offensive. (The Danes are quite proud of their often politically incorrect and bawdy humor.) If you are familiar with Danish TV and film, it will be no surprise at how well this series was cast. There are no false notes among an impressive ensemble which includes veteran Danish players. Hopefully, these first eight episodes of the rambunctious "Ditte and Louise" are just a start to a potentially legendary comedic partnership.

The Americans: Walter Taffet (2015) Season 3, Episode 7

Noah's Arc

[10/10 · 12 March 2015]

Noah Emmerich directs in the most heart-racing episode of season 3 yet. Maybe it's because he knows this series so well, but Mr. Emmerich shows us suspense and pacing par excellence. The episode had too many highlights to count, but it's the action scenes that were kick-in-the-head this week. Even clever Hans didn't have a clue as to what might go down while playing "silent" look-out for a Jennings operation in a boring-ass part of DC. His expression in a few fleeting final frames summed up my amazement as well. Priceless. All this action went down in an impossible to breathe 3 minute coda; If it was much longer I would have had to reach for my albuturol. (Small spoiler: Delectably, the action is "virtually" set into motion with a time-machine guitar solo from Fleetwood Mac's "Break the Chain".) A very fierce Episode of THE best show on TV right now. And to Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys: you guys rock my world. All I can add is wow.

Fargo (2014–2024)

Sociopaths Never Sleep

[7/10 · 24 May 2014]

The Movie Fargo was unequivocally 5 star cinema. The TV version is a derivative of that film, so it has quite a challenge to live up to. All in all, compared to the film, I would give it close to 7 stars and improving, especially with episode 6. Despite all the extra time to fill, the masks of evil portrayed are overtly simplified rather than fleshed out. Instead, the extra hours are crafted to showcase acts of violence: violence that is varyingly diabolical, cruel, collateral and/or tragic. I concede that the characters killed in graphic detail are those that are drawn as idiotic cartoon characters, while animals and "innocents" have been the spared the almost lewd blood gushing effects. However, from my viewpoint, all this violence does not intrigue but instead repulses. Fargo's "good" and lovable characters, Molly and Gus, have short quirky chats over meals and coffee. Imagining what's going on inside their heads is my favorite aspect of the series. Colin Hanks played a not wildly dissimilar character as a Dallas P.D. cop in short-lived TV comedy, "The Good Guys", 4 years ago, so he feels like an old friend. Mr Hanks is perfectly cast here, as is newcomer Allison Tolman as a heartfelt and intelligent Molly Solverson. Martin Friedman, whose central portrayal of Lester Nygaard is also excellent, despite being hard to feel much sympathy for (until episode 5 when his propensity for being a victim hovers on terminal). At the close of episode 6, Mr. Friedman has the truly brilliant understated acting moment of the series, so watch for it. Billy Bob Thornton plays Malvo (short for malevolent?) mostly in deadpan, but becomes astutely animated in a wicked bit as "The Pastor". As the most deadly of human animal species (the brilliant sociopath), Malvo seems invincible, like a human "terminator". He appears to have no urges that amount to human weakness, and I don't think he ever eats or sleeps. Maybe he's too overstimulated by his motivating talents: stalking "prey", simulating plagues, murdering people, etc. Not to mention practicing the fine arts of humiliating and terrorizing people. (Gee, what a fun guy!) Thornton's portrayal of the aloof Malvo is uncanny; Without BBT's uncommon skills, Malvo might be just another cold-blooded maniac. Despite high marks for the lead actors, the episodes I've seen have been hurt by a deluge of clownish villains and thugs,preposterous "biblical" terrors, and gratuitous violence with full-screen grisly murder detail. Very low common denominator stuff. Still, the story telling makes this show worth following, and it seems to be getting more imaginative with each episode.